Coming Home

by Judith Keim

  “How’s the evening going?”

  “Great,” said Imani. “Hank and I actually danced.”

  Hank laughed. “I don’t dance to this kind of music, but for her, I tried.”

  Cami decided she liked him a lot.

  After seeing that everyone else was served, she joined Rafe at the end of the line. He indicated the crowd with a nod of his head. “Looks like we hit another home run. Everyone is having an outstanding time, and Darren, Liz, and their staff have done a great job with the food.”

  “Nonnee would be proud,” said Cami, enjoying the moment. The happy buzz of conversation filled the room as people ate and chatted with one another, pleasing her. Unless someone specifically reserved a whole table, guests were seated randomly with one another. If the music, food, and wine were excellent, it helped to make it work well.

  “Rod Mitchell has set his hopes high on Bernard. They’re both out to prove they’re the best.”

  “It’s a sorry combination,” said Rafe, shaking his head. “But make no mistake, we’ll have to watch them carefully. I don’t trust either of them.”

  “I think you’re right.” Even as she helped herself to the food, her stomach curled at the idea of Bernard living next door. He seemed quite desperate to get back with her, and though it hurt, she knew it had a lot to do with Chandler Hill and her inheritance.

  Later, after the guests had left, Rafe and Darren passed out glasses of champagne to those members of the staff who were of age. They offered the extra desserts as well.

  “Here’s to another successful Valentine’s Day event. Thank you, everyone.”

  “Happy Valentine’s Day!” came a loud response, and they all raised their glasses.

  As talk continued, staff members shared stories of the evening. Cami studied them. They were a nice group of people. She thought of the changes she was making in The Barn and wondered how she could improve conditions for this crew working for her. It was more than money that made a staff member loyal.

  She put aside her thoughts and turned her attention to Rafe, who was speaking.

  “Good night, everyone! See you tomorrow.”

  Cami gave him a kiss on the cheek and stood awkwardly in front of Drew, who was preparing to leave with Rafe.

  “Thanks for the dance.”

  He grinned. “Good night, Cami.” He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

  Whistles and cat calls erupted from the onlookers.

  “We’re just friends,” said Cami, blushing to the roots of her hair as she turned to face them.

  “See you!” Drew called to everyone before hurrying to catch up to Rafe.

  Becca took Cami aside. “You call that ‘friends?’ Girl, you’ve got a lot to learn.”

  “You know it can’t be more than that. Not now when we have so much going on at the inn. Later, when I’m a little more comfortable with managing the place, and maybe after the bud break in late March or the buds bloom in May after the wedding, I can think about it. He wants us to be friends and I’m willing to leave it at that.”

  “Okay, okay. It’s just that the two of you seem to sizzle. Drew and I didn’t click, but you two do. Know what I mean?”

  Uncomfortable, Cami turned the conversation around. “Talk about sizzling, has Dan proposed yet?”

  Becca’s lips turned down. She shook her head.

  Dan came over to them. “Ready to go, Becca? I’m beat.”

  “See you tomorrow,” Becca said.

  Sensing Becca’s disappointment, Cami gave her a hug. “Tomorrow.”

  ###

  Cami lay in bed thinking of the evening. She’d lied to Becca. She wanted to be more than friends with Drew. With him, she wanted what her grandparents had shared. The way she’d felt dancing in his arms, as if she’d always belonged there, was something she’d once dreamed of. She realized more than ever that her romance with Bernard had been infatuation. But there were problems. Drew had trust issues, and she hadn’t lied to Becca about needing time to get her arms around the job of running the inn, The Barn, the vineyards, and the winery. She had people to help her, of course, but she needed to be confident about handling it all. The thought of someday adding Rafe’s property to hers scared the hell out of her.

  She rolled over and hugged her pillow. Life was so much simpler when she was just a college graduate working for someone else.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The next morning, Cami and Becca stood in the office to say goodbye to Justine and George, who had signed the final contracts for their May wedding.

  “Thank you again for everything,” Justine said. “Our stay this weekend was perfect. The Valentine Party was fabulous, and the staff was great. I’m so happy to know my wedding will take place here.”

  “Yeah, and the food was delicious.” George patted his stomach. “The Beef Wellington was out of sight. That, and the cake we’ve chosen.”

  “I’m going to tell Lulu about meeting you,” Justine said. “You two really do look alike.”

  Cami lifted her notepad, curious about her apparent double. “What is her name again?”

  “Louise, Lulu Kingsley. She and I went to prep school together and have been friends ever since. She’s a lot of fun.”

  “Nice. Again, thank you for choosing Chandler Hill for your wedding. One last question, do you mind if we discreetly take photos of your wedding to be used in promotions? With your permission, of course.”

  “Oh, that would be nice,” said Justine, glancing at George. “We don’t mind sharing our happy day, do we?”

  He shrugged. “It’s okay by me.”

  “Thank you. It’s going to be a gorgeous wedding. Let’s hope the weather will cooperate. If not, we’ll set things up nicely in Chandler Hall.” Cami was planning to do some special promotions for weddings, and having visual proof of wedding successes was important. Especially after spending money on the changes and additions she’d either done or planned to do.

  Justine gave Cami and Becca hugs. “See you in May. In the meantime, if anything comes up, I have your email addresses.”

  “Things will come up, I promise you,” George said, laughing when Justine took a friendly swipe at him.

  After they left, Cami and Becca smiled at each other. “I hope all our brides and grooms will be like that.”

  “They won’t,” said Cami, remembering the times when Nonnee had grumbled about it. She studied Becca’s left hand. “No ring?”

  “Nope. My mother told me I shouldn’t be so anxious, but I know it’s what I want. I’m certain he wants it too.” Tears filled Becca’s eyes.

  Cami put her arm around her. “Anyone can tell Dan loves you. Maybe he’s planning something special, something different from many other guys’ proposing on Valentine’s Day.”

  “I hope so. Because I’ve moved most of my stuff into his apartment. By the way, Vanessa will be here next week, a little earlier than I thought.”

  “Terrific. We’re still going through changes in The Barn, and I want to develop a whole new wedding package. She needs to be part of the planning so she can handle the details once a wedding party is on site.”

  ###

  The days flew by as The Barn was reorganized. Cami worked with Gwen Chapman, the new manager, to make things go as smoothly as possible. She wanted to change up the merchandise a bit, add a few different offerings similar to things she’d seen in Europe, and offer a range of higher-priced items. It was a bit risky, but as long as everything was top quality, she thought it would work. That and artwork from local artists would add dimensions to the items for sale that she thought had been missing.

  Checking over the bills for the new inventory, Cami hoped she was right, and the money would be recouped. If only Nonnee’s money hadn’t been lost.

  ###

  Cami sat in her office going over ideas for a new questionnaire for brides and grooms. After talking to Justine and George, she realized the forms they used were inadequate. In reviewing notes of her conv
ersations with them, she found the name of the girl, Lulu, who was supposed to look like her. Thinking of the father she didn’t know, she wondered if there could be a connection.

  Heart pounding, she typed Louise Kingsley’s name into Google and came up with information. Twenty-one, Louise Kingsley was the daughter of Edward Kingsley, a congressman in California. She was a substitute teacher in one of the private schools in an underprivileged area in L.A. Intrigued, Cami looked her up on Facebook and stared in shock at the features of the young woman who could’ve been her. But after studying that photo more closely and others posted on Facebook, she realized that some of Lulu’s features were definitely not like hers. Certainly, her coloring was different. Lulu had chestnut hair and sparkling blue eyes. In all the photos, she was smiling in a way that didn’t match Cami’s.

  Ready to dismiss her idea as folly, Cami looked up information on Edward Kingsley. At fifty-eight, he was a handsome, dark-haired man with hair graying at the temples in an attractive way like some men aged. According to the facts, he’d been married for twenty-three years and was a staunch supporter of the religious right. His body language in the photos showed him to be sure of himself. She studied the picture of his family. Standing beside a small, pretty blonde, he had a hand on Lulu’s shoulder and another on the shoulder of a boy who appeared quite a bit younger than Lulu.

  She studied his features, looking for any similarities. She couldn’t be sure, but she thought the shape of her face, maybe their ears, and definitely their mouths were the same. She studied another photo and let out a gasp. His left earlobe was exactly like hers—shorter, less well-formed than the one on the right. Her heart pounded so hard she felt faint. She searched other photographs. Both of his earlobes were like that, not just the left one like hers.

  Everyone had always told her that there was no mistaking Nonnee as her grandmother. In fact, many thought Nonnee was her mother. She’d liked that idea. But now, after all these years, she might know who her father was.

  Cami studied the garden outside her office window. What if she was the congressman’s daughter? Would it mean an end to his career? A betrayal of her mother’s wishes to keep him unknown?

  Cami stood and went over to the window. The sun warmed her face as she gazed out at the blue sky. She took a deep breath. If the congressman and his family came to the wedding, she was going to try to talk to him privately. If he was her father, she had a right to know, didn’t she?

  ###

  Two days later Vanessa Duncan arrived. The blond, blue-eyed girl was what Rafe called “a knockout”. Bubbly and full of personality, Cami felt a little overwhelmed and then reminded herself not to be silly. Vanessa was perfect for the job she had in mind for her, even though her instincts told Cami there was something worrisome about her.

  One afternoon several days later, while Cami was working at her desk, Becca approached her. “I’m throwing a party Saturday night to welcome Vanessa. Please come.”

  “Sounds like fun. Like you said, she loves to have a good time.”

  Becca started to leave and turned back. “Vanessa and Drew are double dating with Dan and me tonight. I know you’ve said that you want to be only friends with him, but I wanted you to know.”

  “Thanks,” Cami responded, managing to hide her dismay. If Vanessa was just a pretty girl, she wouldn’t be worried about her dating Drew. But Vanessa was way more outgoing than she, way more fun. Relax, Cami told herself. You got what you wanted from Drew. A friend. But that didn’t make her feel any better.

  ###

  Saturday night, Cami climbed the stairs into Dan’s apartment. In a nice complex, his unit was bigger than some, with two bedrooms and a large kitchen, which Becca had confided to her she hardly ever used.

  The party was already in full swing when Cami walked into the apartment. Music was blaring and a crowd had gathered in the kitchen, where beer, wine, and sodas were set out. Chips and salsa, nuts, and pretzels were placed on available spaces throughout the living area.

  Cami guessed there were twenty or so people there as she made her way to the kitchen.

  Drew stopped her. “Glad you could make it.”

  “Yeah, me too.” She moved on to the kitchen. A glass of an after-dinner wine might help soothe her jangled nerves. Earlier in the office, Vanessa had raved about her two dates with Drew. She even announced that she’d love to have a wedding of her own at the inn.

  Vanessa was in the kitchen surrounded by a number of men, making them laugh with tales of her work in New York.

  “And here is my boss,” Vanessa exclaimed, her face flushed from alcohol. She wrapped an arm around Cami’s shoulder. “She’s the best!”

  Cami smiled at the assembled group, realizing she didn’t know many of them. Too much work at the inn, she decided. She poured herself a glass of wine and joined the gathering around Vanessa. She was, Cami thought, a natural entertainer. Soon, she was laughing at Vanessa’s antics and her uncanny way of imitating people.

  Drew came up beside Cami. “The pruning is almost done in the vineyards. Then we’ll begin checking all the wiring on the trellises. It looks like it’s going to be an amazing season.”

  She smiled at him. “I think so too. I can’t wait to be a part of it. By the time the buds bloom in May, the wedding should be over and I can give a little more time to the grape growing.”

  Vanessa sidled up to them. “What are you two talking about?”

  “The schedule for the grapes,” Drew said. “You might want to know about it.”

  Vanessa beamed at him and slapped his arm playfully. “I just like to drink the end product. Or spend time with you.”

  He laughed. “It doesn’t have to be one or the other. We can do it together.”

  Cami eased away from them and went to join the others in the living room. Seeing Drew and Vanessa together hurt.

  She’d just taken a sip of her wine when Bernard showed up at the door. She worked hard to swallow without choking.

  “Heard there was a party,” Bernard said, grinning at the group.

  One of the girls on the couch beside her said, “Wow! He can come to my party anytime.”

  Becca hurried over to him. “Hi, Bernard. What’s up?”

  He grinned. “I live in the next building. I thought I’d better come and check this out.”

  Cami noticed the unhappy look on Becca’s face before indicating he could come inside.

  As Bernard headed for the kitchen, Becca came over to her. “Sorry about Bernard. But what could I do?”

  Cami waved away her concern. “Don’t worry about it. It’s time for me to go anyway. I’m having breakfast with Rafe, and you know what an early riser he is.”

  Becca laughed. “We all do.”

  Cami hugged Becca. “See you on Monday. Enjoy your day off.”

  Quietly, before anyone noticed, Cami slipped out the door. She needed time to sort through her feelings for Drew. He’d told her he didn’t want any serious relationships, but he and Vanessa appeared to have moved fast to build one.

  ###

  Cami sat with Rafe inside Sunny Up, a new restaurant in town known for their tasty breakfasts. Sipping gratefully on her coffee, she felt the hot liquid help get her ready for the day. Sundays were busy at the inn with people checking out and rooms being cleaned for the next wave of guests.

  “Heard Becca and Dan had a great party last night. Drew called in to say he wouldn’t be at the winery, that he’d stayed out way too late. It’s no problem, of course, at this time of year. Did you go?”

  Cami set down her coffee cup. “I went and left soon after Bernard arrived. I couldn’t face a confrontation with him.” She wasn’t about to tell him she couldn’t stand to see how Drew and Vanessa were acting after only a couple of dates.

  He studied her. “You can’t let Bernard interfere with your friendships, any more than you can allow him to interfere with business.”

  “I know. I know. You’re right. He just seems to be everywhere.”
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  Their omelets were served, and after taking a bite of his, Rafe said, “I’ve chosen dates for the river cruise. With Drew handling things at the vineyard, I’m going to take advantage of having the time to do it. I’ve decided on early September before picking and crush take place. Sound okay?”

  Cami smiled and clasped his hand. “It sounds perfect. Nonnee really wanted you to do this.” She paused, took a deep breath, and blurted, “I need to talk to you about something. What would you say if I tell you I think I’ve found my father?”

  Rafe’s eyebrows shot up. “What are you talking about?”

  Cami told him how Justine and George had agreed she looked like their friend Lulu Kingsley. “I didn’t think much about it as we finalized their wedding plans. But later, when I saw my note with her name on it, I did a little investigation on my own. I looked up both her and her father, a congressman from California, online.” Cami tugged on her left ear. “You know how I’ve always hated the way this ear looks. Edward Kingsley has one just like it. Two in fact. And, Rafe, I do look an awful lot like Lulu, his daughter.”

  He set down his fork and leaned back in his chair, studying her.

  “I know how important it is to know who your parents are. It was always a big disappointment that your grandmother never knew either one of hers. Be careful, cariño. Poking into another person’s business can end up hurting you. Your mother never wanted us to know. I believe she kept it from us for a good reason.”

  “She might have told me when I was older, but she never got the chance.”

  Rafe shook his head sadly. “She died way too young, just when I was beginning to form a relationship with her as my daughter.”

  “But I have a right to know, don’t I?” Cami persisted.

  “Yes, but one person’s right could be another person’s trouble. Just be careful. That’s all I’m saying.”

  Silence reigned as they continued eating.

  Rafe was too protective of her, Cami thought. She was a big girl; she could handle this situation on her own. When the wedding party arrived at Chandler Hill, she was going to find a way to talk to Lulu or her father.